SYSTEM FOR EXPLOITING THE THERMAL ENERGY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN

Abstract

An apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean. The apparatus comprises a thermal energy harnessing assembly and a drilling assembly mounted thereto. The thermal energy harnessing assembly includes in-feed tube and out-feed tubes. The drilling assembly has openings in fluid communication with the in-feed tube and a thermal energy capturing conduit in fluid communication with the out-feed tube. When the drilling assembly engages a bottom surface of the ocean and fluid is introduced into the in-feed tube, fluid flows towards the drilling assembly and out of the openings at such a pressure as to drill into the bottom surface of the ocean allowing thermal energy to escape therefrom and to flow into the out-feed tube via the thermal energy capturing conduit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for exploiting thermal energy. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to systems for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Energy alternatives are pressing worldwide concerns due to climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.

An alternative of interest is harnessing the hydrothermal energy at the bottom of the ocean by using heat sources such as volcanoes or rifts. Still more interesting is drilling into the earth at the bottom of the ocean in order to access the vast amounts of thermal energy that can be used to produce electricity among other uses.

Conventional techniques of drilling into the earth crust at the bottom of the ocean cannot provide for creating deep tunnels therein that can truly take advantage of the extremely high temperatures available and as such meet global energy demands.

There thus remains a need to provide improved methods and devices for exploiting the thermal energy available at the bottom of the ocean.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the exploitation of thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of exploiting thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean, the apparatus comprising:

a thermal energy harnessing assembly comprising an in-feed tube an out-feed tube; and

• • a drilling assembly mounted to the thermal energy harnessing assembly, the drilling assembly comprising openings in fluid communication with the in-feed tube and a thermal energy capturing conduit in fluid communication with the out-feed tube,
  • wherein when the drilling assembly engages a bottom surface of the ocean and fluid is introduced into the in-feed tube, the fluid is caused to flow towards the drilling assembly and out of the openings at such a pressure as to drill into the bottom surface of the ocean allowing thermal energy to escape therefrom so as to flow into the out-feed tube via the thermal energy capturing conduit.
  • In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drilling assembly for drilling into a surface comprising:
  • a drilling device comprising an outer surface with openings leading to longitudinal bores for receiving high pressure fluid and spraying the high pressure fluid out of the openings so as to drill into the surface; and
  • an actuator mounted to the drilling device for spinning the drilling device about a vertical axis when drilling into the surface.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean, the method comprising;

drilling with high-pressure water a tunnel within a bottom surface of the ocean;

capturing thermal energy being released from the drilled tunnel; and

diverting this high thermal energy to the surface of the ocean for exploitation thereof.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean, the apparatus comprising:

an in-feed tube having a top end and bottom end thereof for providing water to flow down from the in-feed top end to the in-feed bottom end; and

an out-feed tube having a top end and a bottom end thereof for providing thermal energy to flow up from the out-feed bottom end to the out-feed top end; and

a heat conducting tube for being placed about a heat source at the bottom of the ocean, the heat conducting tube being in fluid communication with the in-feed tube and the out-feed tube, and having a serpentine configuration to slow down the flow of water therein so as to allow for the water to be sufficiently heated by the heat source thereby providing the thermal energy produced to rise into the out-feed tube.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean, the apparatus comprising:

an in-feed tube having a top end and bottom end thereof for providing water to flow down from the in-feed top end to the in-feed bottom end; and

an out-feed tube having a top end and a bottom end thereof for providing thermal energy to flow up from the out-feed bottom end to the out-feed top end;

a heat conducting tube for being placed about a heat source at the bottom of the ocean, the heat conducting tube being in fluid communication with the in-feed tube and the out-feed tube; and

a layer of insulation for being placed above the heat conducting tube thereby maintaining heat between the heat source and the layer of insulation,

wherein water from the in-feed tube is heated in the heat conducting tube to produce thermal energy which flows into the out-feed tube.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tunnel reinforcement assembly for reinforcing a drilled tunnel within the bottom surface of the ocean; the tunnel reinforcement assembly comprising:

an outer sheet comprising an outer mid-section and a pair of outer arms extending therefrom defining respective free ends; and

an inner sheet comprising an inner mid-section and a pair of inner arms extending therefrom defining respective free ends,

wherein when the outer and inner sheets are assembled, the inner pair of arms are inserted between the outer pair of arms and lie flush there against, the free ends of the inner pair of arms engage the outer mid-section therebetween, the free ends of the outer pair of arms engage said inner mid-section therebetween.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of non-limiting illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings, where like reference numerals denote like elements throughout and in where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with another non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a portion of an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with a further non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a thermal energy harnessing tube assembly in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is schematic illustration of a thermal energy harnessing tube assembly in accordance with another non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with yet another non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with yet a further non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with still another non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the lower portion of an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with still a further non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the apparatus of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is underside view of the apparatus of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is another schematic illustration of the lower portion of the apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a tunnel reinforcement sheet assembly in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the outer sheet of the tunnel reinforcement sheet assembly of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the inner sheet of the tunnel reinforcement sheet assembly of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

General Principle

Generally stated, the present invention provides systems for producing electrical energy, hydrogen by harnessing the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean. The foregoing is accomplished while avoiding emitting pollutants as well as dispensing any additional energy since all energy produced is re-used within the system as will be further explained herein. Depending on regional temperatures, vapor or mixtures of vapor and hot water for producing electricity, oxygen and hydrogen are available at the bottom of the ocean in large quantities. Therefore the systems provided herein harness and exploit this thermal energy.

In an embodiment, there is provided a thermally insulated elongated tube that is to be lowered into the ocean by placing its bottom end at an advantageous distance from a heat source such as a volcano or a rift for example. Like volcanoes, rifts are interesting heat sources due to their depths and abundance of heat. The aforementioned advantageous distance refers to a distance at which vapour having the highest possible temperature can be captured. The top end of the tube is positioned near the water surface. Therefore, high temperature water or vapour enters the bottom end of the tube instead of mixing with the rest of the ocean water and as such being cooled down. Once in the tube, the water or the vapour has a density which is lesser than that of the ocean water surrounding the tube thus causing the water or vapour inside the tube to naturally rise within the vertical pathway. The closer the vapour or water reaches the ocean surface the more the density and the pressure within the tube will diminish thereby accelerating this rising movement. This high pressure vapour or water is then used in order to actuate a turbine associated to a generator thereby producing electricity.

Coolant Gases

By using ocean thermal energy it is possible, even in the case where water rising within the tube is not in a state of ebullition, to bring coolant gases or any other liquid having desired characteristics to ebullition if its boiling point is slightly above zero degrees Celsius. For example, ammonium is a desirable coolant gas since it is a natural gas and therefore less harmful to the environment. Ammonium is useful at its gaseous state for actuating a turbine associated with a generator and thereby producing electricity. Thereafter, by using a heat exchanger in areas of the ocean where the water is cold, the coolant gas returns to a liquid state. In regions surrounding Iceland for example, there are many variations in ocean temperatures that allow for production of energy at a greater scope.

Clean Water Sources

Given that hot water is situated right above volcanoes or rifts it contains many impurities which produce deposits within any siphoning tube thus clogging this tube or generally decreasing energy production and the overall efficiency of any energy exploitation system. To address this problem, it is advantageous to use clean water that is near the heat sources. In order to accomplish this, the thermal energy harnessing tube includes an auxiliary heat conducting tube at its bottom end that is strategically placed near the hot water source. The auxiliary heat conducting tube includes a filter therein thereby allowing the water to be filtered while it is heated.

Heat Exchanger in a Closed Circuit

A closed circuit system refers to a thermal energy harnessing tube assembly having a in-feed tube for bringing water or any other liquid down to the bottom of the ocean, a heat conducting tube portion for heating up this water or liquid and an out-feed tube portion for returning the heated water, liquid or gas to the surface of the ocean for exploitation of the harnessed thermal energy.

The heat exchanger in a closed circuit provides for a more efficient system since the same water free of impurities is being used. This allows to obtain a maximum heat exchange and to minimize the weight of the vapour rising within the vertical tube towards the ocean surface since it contains barely any impurities.

The closed circuit system includes concentric tubes or a pair of side by side in feed and out-feed vertical tubes. Generally, water flows towards the heat source via an in-feed tube and then through at least one heat conducting tube positioned above a heat source such as a volcano or rift. Once heated, the water flows upward into a thermally insulated out-feed tube, towards the ocean surface, in the form of rising hot water or vapour or mixtures thereof. When the water is tuned into vapour, the vapour will naturally rise into the out-feed tube towards the ocean surface. In one embodiment, this vapour, when placed under pressure, is used to actuate a turbine-generator assembly for the production of electricity or for the electrolysis of water. When the water in the out-feed tube rising towards the ocean surface is not vaporized but remains in a hot liquid state, its thermal energy is useful in boiling a coolant liquid thereby providing a coolant gas, as explained above.

Exploitation of Thermal Energy Provided by Rifts

Rifts are planes within the earth's crust usually associated with large volcanoes such as Kilimanjaro for example. Yet there are rifts within the bottom of the ocean whose thermal energy can be harnessed and used.

Generally, this system includes placing an insulating material horizontally above the rift in order to keep the heat between the rift and the insulation and then positioning a heat conducting tube therebetween. The heat conducting tube includes an opening for siphoning water therein. In a closed circuit system water is fed to the heat conducting tube. Of course, the water that is fed into the heat conducting tube can be brought from any area of the ocean. For example, clean water, such as filtered ocean water that is not near the heat source can be used. Water outside the ocean can all be used. In an embodiment, the out-feed tube in which the water or vapour rises is thermally insulated in order to maintain the rising water of vapour at a high temperature.

Assemblies for the Exploitation of Thermal Energy

FIG. 1 shows an assembly 10 for the exploitation of thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean.

The assembly 10 includes an in-feed tube 12 having an open bottom end 14, positioned above a heat source H at the bottom B of the ocean O, for siphoning hot water/vapor therein. The top end 16 of the vertical in feed tube 12 is in fluid communication with a purifying system 18 via a conduit 20. The purifying system 18 comprises a centrifuge for eliminating particles from the hot water/vapor before the hot water/vapor flows into the turbine 22 via conduit 24. The hot water/vapor actuates turbine 22 which is associated with a generator 26, via conduit 28, for the production of electricity

Hot water/vapor from turbine 22 flows into a tube 30 positioned within a heat exchanger 32. The heat exchanger 32 includes another tube 34 with a coolant gas which runs generally parallel to tube 30. In this way, the hot water or vapour within tube 30 is cooled down and thereby condensed (when in the form of vapour) to flow within a reservoir 36 that contains substantially pure water. Correspondingly, the coolant gas within tube 34 is heated and flows into turbine 38 for actuation thereof. Turbine 38 is associated with generator 40, via conduit 42, for the production of electricity. The heated coolant gas flows from turbine 38 into tube 44 which is connected to a heat exchanger 46. The heat exchanger 46 includes another tube 48 through which flows cold water. Therefore, the heated gas within tube 44 is cooled down and the cold water within tube 48 is heated. Coolant gas is pumped towards turbine 38 and out of turbine 38 via a pump 50.

Turning to FIG. 2, there is shown an assembly 11 for the exploitation of thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean that is similarly constructed to assembly 10 as such, only the difference between assemblies 11 and 10 will be discussed herein for concision purposes only.

Assembly 11 comprises a vertical tube 12 including at its bottom end 15 an auxiliary heat conducting tube 52 having a serpentine (such as a helicoidal or spiral) configuration and including an open fee end 54 for receiving surrounding water therein. The water flows into the tube 52 via opening 54 and is heated within the heat conducting 52 by the heat source H (such as a rift or volcano).

FIG. 3 shows the double heat exchanging portion 51 of an assembly 13 for the exploitation of thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean.

Assembly 13 includes a bottom heat exchanger 53A, including two parallel heat exchanging conduits 55l and 55ll which have helicoidal portion within the heat exchanger 53A for slowing down the flow of fluid during heat exchange. The fluid from conduit 55ll flows to an electricity producing assembly E including a pump P a turbine T and a generator G. The electricity producing assembly E is in Ifuid communication with heat exchanger 57 including a pair of heat exchanging conduits 59l and 59ll similarly constructed to conduits 55l and 55ll.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, closed circuit systems will be described to further exemplify the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a vertical co-centric tube assembly 60 having an external in-feed 62 and an internal out-feed tube 64. The external tube 62 brings water toward a loop 66 that is positioned above heat source H once the water is heated it rises within tube 64.

FIG. 5 shows a vertical tube assembly 70 having an in-feed tube 72 for bringing water toward a loop 74 positioned above a heat source to be heated and then to rise into an out-feed tube 76.

FIG. 6 shows a closed circuit system 80 comprising a thermal energy tube harnessing assembly 81 with an in-feed tube 82 that brings water into a heat conducting helicoidal conduit 84 positioned above a heat source for heating thereof. Once the water is vaporized, it flows into an out-feed tube 86 that provides for the vapour therein to flow into an actuated turbine 88 associated with generator 90 for the production of electricity.

FIG. 7 shows an assembly 100 for the exploitation of thermal energy. Assembly 100 is a closed circuit system having a tube assembly 101 including tubes 102, 104 and 108.

Water flows within an in-feed tube 102 downwardly towards a heat source H. The water flows into a vertical heat conducting tube 104 positioned about the heat source H. The heat conducting tube 104 is positioned beneath layer of insulating material 106 thereby maintaining the heat between the heat source H and the material 106. The water within the heat conducting tube 104 is heater into either hot water or vapour; the hot water or vapour flows into an out-feed tube 108 which leads to a helicoidal or spiral tube 110 positioned within a heat exchanger 112. Also positioned within the heat exchanger 112 is another helicoidally or spiral tube 114 that runs generally parallel to tube 110. The helicoidal tube 114 includes a coolant gas which is heated by the hot water or vapour in tube 110. Correspondingly, the coolant gas cools down the vapour or hot water in tube 110 and therefore returns into tube 102 as cold water. Coolant gas is pumped into the tube 114 via pump 116. The coolant gas that has been heated within the heat exchanger 112 flows into turbine 118 which is associated to generator 120 for the production of electricity. The heated gas flows out of the turbine 118 and into a helicoidal tube 122 positioned within a heat exchanger 124. Coolant gas flows into tube 122 via the action pump 116. The heat exchanger 124 also includes another tube 126 which is also has a helicoidal configuration that receives cold water. The hot gas in tube 122 heats up the cold water within tube 126 and the cold water within tube 126 cools down the gas in tube 122 which returns as a coolant gas into tube 114.

Drilling into the Bottom of the Ocean

Often, temperatures at the bottom of the ocean are too high for drilling holes within the earth crust via conventional means. In an embodiment, the present method provides for initially drilling a first depth level within the earth crust via conventional techniques, and then continuing drilling as will be explained herein. In an embodiment, the present method uses high liquid pressure such as water pressure to continue drilling into the earth at the bottom of the ocean. The water used can be clean filtered water, water external to the ocean or unfiltered ocean water and mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, high water pressure is provided via water jets. In an embodiment, the water jets are associated to an in-feed tube which feeds water toward these high powered water jets. Hot water or vapour or mixtures thereof that are exposed via drilling are recuperated by an out-feed tube. Both of the foregoing tubes may comprise heat conducting portions along their lengths. As such, the present method provides for drilling into the earth crust for many kilometres. It should be noted that abrasive material can be mixed with the water in the in-feed tube so that the water sprayed out of the water jets is more effective during drilling.

Water spraying out of the jets is heated and when drilling deep into the earth, temperatures greatly rise thus vaporizing the water being sprayed out. This vapour rises within the out-feed or exhaust tube. In the case where water is not heated enough in order vaporize and the density thereof is not low enough so that it rises within an exhaust or out-feed tube by itself, mechanical means such a pump or other suction can recuperate this water.

Water or vapour rising into an out-feed tube towards the surface of the ocean usually includes particles that are caused by drilling which breaks the rock. As such, this water or vapour is diverted into another reservoir which slows down its flow in order to allow the various debris, particles and minerals to be deposited. This reservoir can advantageously include a centrifuge.

It is of interest to note that in areas of the ocean where tectonic plates separate, we find mountains of accumulated volcanic deposits at the centre of which lava infiltrates to fill the void left by the drifting apart tectonic plates. The foregoing provides for a zone in the centre of these mountains where the temperature is much higher. Drilling into these zones provides for harnessing high thermal energy.

During drilling into the earth crust a tunnel is provided and hence ocean water infiltrates therein.

Of course the deeper we drill into the earth, the more thermal energy can be obtained.

Drilling Assemblies

FIG. 8 shows a tube assembly 200 including a drilling assembly 202 at is bottom end 204. The tube assembly 200 includes side by side in-feed and out-feed tubes, 206 and 208 respectively. The drill assembly 202 includes a turbine 210 and a drilling device 212. Water flows downward into the in-feed tube 206 thereby actuating the turbine 210 which causes the drilling device 212 to spin. The drilling device 212 includes apertures (not shown) for shooting high pressure water therethrough which cuts into the rock R providing for the tube assembly 200 to move deeper into the earth at the bottom B of the ocean O.

In this way, the drilling assembly 202 provides for creating a tunnel 214 within the bottom ocean surface B. The tube assembly 200 includes insulators 216 about the vertical tubes 206 and 208 for trapping heat between the area A defined by the tunnel 214, the bottom surface 218 of the tunnel 214 and the insulators 216. Hence area A heats the water within the bottom portion P of the tube assembly 200 providing for the heated water to naturally rise into out-feed tube 208 towards the ocean surface S. The top end 220 of the tube assembly 200 is connected to a platform base 222 which can comprise systems for pumping water into the in-feed tube 206 thereby providing greater pressure force on turbine 210 and hence drilling device 212. The platform 222 can also include a variety of systems for using the vapour within the out-feed tube 208 for the production of electricity or for other uses known in the art of thermal energy exploitation. The top portion 224 of the tube assembly 200 can also be covered with thermal insulators 226.

Turning now to FIGS. 9 to 12, a drilling assembly 300 in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

With particular reference to FIGS. 9 and 13, the drilling assembly 300 mounted to a vertical tube assembly 302. The tube assembly 302 is a co-centric double tube system including an external tube 304 which acts as in-feed tube for bringing water down towards the drilling assembly 300 and an internal out-feed tube 306 for bringing hot water, vapour or mixtures thereof upwards towards the ocean surface. The tube assembly 302 also includes an auxiliary tube assembly 308. Assembly 308 includes an auxiliary in-feed tube 310 and an auxiliary out-feed tube 312. The auxiliary in-feed tube 310 brings water towards an actuation assembly 314 and the out-feed tube 312 retrieves water from this actuation assembly 314 bringing the water back towards the ocean surface.

With reference to FIG. 9, the actuation assembly 314 acts on a drilling device 316 for causing it to spin about a vertical axis. The actuation assembly 314 includes a housing 318 having a turbine 320 in fluid communication with the auxiliary in-feed and out-feed tubes, 310 and 312 respectively. Water actuates the turbine 320 which acts on a rod 322 mounted thereto and carrying a gear 324 at it free end 326. The gear 324 acts on a circular pinion or toothed rack 328 mounted on the top end 330 of the drilling device 316. The drilling device 316 is movably mounted to the housing 318 (via a bearing assembly for example) and thereby caused to spin when the gear 324 acts on the pinion 328.

With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, the drilling device 316 has a tapered outer surface 332 ending at bottom end 334 which has an opening 336 that leads to a tunnel 338 which is contiguous with the out-feed tube 306. As will be described herein the tunnel acts as a thermal energy capturing conduit. The drilling device 302 includes a plurality of aligned sets of holes 340 formed within longitudinal grooves 342 defining upwardly curved sidewalls 344 at each side of the aligned holes 340. Each of the holes 340 leads to respective longitudinal bores 346. Water coming down from the in-feed tube 306 descends with great pressure and shoots out of holes 340 in a generally straight line. Therefore, the aligned holes 340 and associated bores 346 are water jets which provide for to cutting through the rock as the drilling device 302 is spun by the actuation assembly 314.

During the drilling procedure, hot water, vapour or mixtures thereof naturally rises up into tunnel 338 which is in fluid communication with the out-feed tube 306 providing for thermal energy to be harnessed at the surface of the ocean. The drilling assembly 300 can be used to drill about 1 kilometre deep into the earth crust at the bottom of the ocean, thereby allowing harnessing of high thermal energy for exploitation thereof.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 11, the drilling device 316 also includes an auxiliary diagonally positioned bore 348 leading to an opening 350 in fluid communication with tunnel 338. The bore 350 is receives high pressure water from the in-feed tube 304 spraying water into the tunnel 308 via opening 350 thereby clearing the tunnel 338 of any debris or particles from the thermal energy pathway.

Turning now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the drilling device 316 includes a short conduit 352 positioned near the top end 330 thereof for and including an opening 354 angularly directed thereby receiving high pressure water from the in-feed tube 304 and providing for this water to flow along the tapered outer surface 332 cleaning any rock or particles that may form on the surface 332 during drilling.

It should be noted that the pressure within the water jets (the bores and their associated opening and holes) is much greater than the external pressure surrounding the drilling assembly 302 hence providing for the water shooting out of these water jets to have a high impact with the earth crust that is being drilled. Furthermore, the pressure within the tunnel 338 is much less than the external pressure thereby providing for hot water, vapor or mixtures thereof to naturally rise therein and into the out-feed tube 306.

Reinforcement Sheets for the Drilled Tunnel

In order to provide a clear pathway in a drilled tunnel at the bottom of the ocean free of potential debris caused from particles, rocks or even larger pieces breaking off the walls of the tunnel, these walls are covered by reinforcement sheets to provide a tunnel having a smooth cylindrical internal wall surface. In an embodiment, there is provided a tunnel reinforcement assembly made of at least two associated sheets for being compressed together when inserted within a drilled tunnel and allowed to expand once set within the tunnel against the tunnel's internal wall surface. Thereby providing a solidified tunnel with a constant diameter allowing more efficient harnessing of thermal energy.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show tunnel reinforcement assembly 400, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, comprising a pair of associated inner and outer sheets 402 and 404.

Inner sheet 402 includes a thicker mid-section 406 with a pair or curved arms 408A and 408B extending therefrom and having spaced apart free ends 410A and 4108 defining a space 412 therebetween. Outer sheet 404 includes a thicker mid-section 414 with a pair or curved arms 416A and 4168 extending therefrom and having spaced apart free ends 418A and 418B defining a space 420 therebetween. Arms 410A, 410B, 418A and 418B are flexible and resilient structures. Arms 408A and 408B are pressed inwardly and inserted via opening 420 into outer sheet 404. The arms 408A and 4088 open up and press against arms 416A and 416B respectively. The free ends 410A and 410B respectively abut shoulders 422A and 4228 formed by the thicker mid-section 414. Similarly, the free ends 418A and 418B respectively abut shoulders 424A and 424B formed by the thicker mid-section 406. As such, the associated sheets 402 and 404 define a tunnel 426.

In order to compress the reinforcement assembly 400 so as to inserted into a narrower tunnel, the inner sheet 402 is pushed into the outer sheet 404. Specifically, the mid section 406 is pushed into the space 420. The free ends 418A and 418B disengage the shoulders 424A and 424B and move closer together. Similarly, the free ends 410A and 410B disengage the shoulders 422A and 422B and move closer together. When the reinforcement assembly 400 has been inserted at a desired position, the compression force thereon is released and the resilient sheets 402 and 404 move towards their original associated form limited by the internal walls of the drilled tunnel which the sheets 402 and 404 engagingly act against.

It should be noted that all the assemblies herein can be considered as being apparatuses even though they may be constructed by two or more associated individual sub-apparatuses or devices. Therefore, the terms apparatus and assembly with regards to a systems of exploiting thermal energy are interchangeable. Furthermore, thermal energy herein includes hydrothermal energy.

It should be noted that the various components and features of the various assemblies described above can be combined in a variety of ways so as to provide other non-illustrated embodiments within the scope of the invention.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit, scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean, said apparatus comprising:

a thermal energy harnessing assembly comprising an in-feed tube and an out-feed tube; and

a drilling assembly mounted to said thermal energy harnessing assembly, said drilling assembly comprising openings in fluid communication with said in-feed tube and a thermal energy capturing conduit in fluid communication with said out-feed tube,

wherein when said drilling assembly engages a bottom surface of the ocean and fluid is introduced into said in-feed tube the fluid is caused to flow towards said drilling assembly and out of said openings at such a pressure as to drill into the bottom surface of the ocean allowing thermal energy to escape therefrom so as to flow into said out-feed tube via said thermal energy capturing conduit.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drilling assembly comprises a drilling device, said drilling device comprising said openings.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said openings are in fluid communication with said in-feed tube via longitudinal bores.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drilling device comprises a tapered outer surface.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said openings are disposed in series along said tapered outer surface.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said series of openings is disposed within a groove formed in said tapered outer surface.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drilling device comprises a conduit in fluid communication with said in-feed tube for receiving fluid therefrom, said conduit having an opening for providing the fluid therein to flow along said tapered outer surface.

8. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an actuator assembly for spinning said drilling device during the drilling procedure.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said actuator comprises a turbine in fluid communication with auxiliary in-feed and out-feed tubes, said auxiliary in-feed tube bringing fluid to said turbine for actuation thereof and said auxiliary out-feed exhausting fluid from said turbine, said turbine actuating a gear for causing said drilling device to spin.

10. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drilling device comprises a bottom end comprising said thermal energy capturing conduit.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said thermal energy capturing conduit comprises an opening at said drilling device bottom end leading to a tunnel in fluid communication with said out-feed tube.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said drilling device comprises an opening formed within said tunnel and being in fluid communication with said in-feed tube for spraying high pressure fluid into said tunnel.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least portions of said thermal energy harnessing assembly are thermally insulated.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is water.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said thermal energy harnessing assembly comprises a top end and a bottom end for carrying said drilling assembly thereby providing for the fluid to from said top end to said bottom end and for the thermal energy to rise from the bottom end to the top end.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said out-feed tube is in fluid communication with a turbine and generator assembly.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tunnel reinforcement assembly for being fitted into a tunnel drilled into the bottom surface of the ocean by said drilling assembly, said tunnel reinforcement assembly comprising a pair of associated resilient and compressible sheets.

18. A drilling assembly for drilling into a surface comprising:

a drilling device comprising an outer surface with openings leading to longitudinal bores for receiving high pressure fluid and spraying the high pressure fluid out of said openings so as to drill into the surface; and

an actuator mounted to said drilling device for spinning said drilling device about a vertical axis when drilling into the surface.

19-22. (canceled)

23. A drilling assembly according to claim 18, wherein said actuator comprises a turbine in fluid communication with auxiliary in-feed and out-feed tubes, said auxiliary in-feed tube bringing fluid to said turbine for actuation thereof and said auxiliary out-feed exhausting fluid from said turbine, said turbine actuating a gear for causing said drilling device to spin.

24. A drilling assembly according to claim 18, wherein said drilling device comprises a bottom end comprising a thermal energy capturing conduit.

25-30. (canceled)